Mar 13, 2007 11:54 PM EST

Pete Rose said his fans would likely be "elated" if baseball reinstated him.

"Everything should be for the fans," Rose said Tuesday before a preview party celebrating Saturday's opening of a special exhibit in his honor at the Reds Hall of Fame. "If they retired my number here, don't you think the fans would be elated?

"They could send a hit man after me, and I would still be out there trying to sell baseball. My name's synonymous with baseball."

Via AP